Month: June 2010

Hula hoops Wednesday at the Farmers Market

My sister Paige (a.k.a. djhoopster), is coming to the Duluth Farmers’ Market to demonstrate adult hula hooping for fun (feats of dexterity!) and physical fitness (ab-blaster!). She will be there from 9:30am until noon on Wednesday, June 9, and will have homemade hoops available for sale. Come and check it out!

Carpets, Blankets and Linens

We want them!! We are reconstructing a small music studio in the area and are looking for any blankets, linens, and mostly carpet that we can use to cover the walls and dampen the sound. Any extra 1970s shag lying around? Let us know.

1882 Duluth Pack for sale – $50,000

Duluth Pack 1882 Duluth Pack Poirier

On eBay:

1882 Duluth PATD “Poirier Pack Strap Sack” Backpack Bag
Vintage Leather & Canvas Bag Camille Poirer Rucksack

Item condition: Pre-owned
Price: US $50,000

Clouds Over Rice’s Point

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGSxOF5nypg

Time-lapse video of clouds drifting over Rice’s Point in Duluth during a roughly one-hour period.

“Notice that each dies a swift death as it reaches Lake Superior,” the videographer notes on YouTube. “No convection, no cloud. That water is cold in May!”

Trish’s Estate Sale

This weekend, June 12 and 13, I am having an Estate Sale from 9am to 4pm. On Sunday from 2-4pm I will be giving away what is left to anyone who says they saw this post on PDD.

Sale includes: Vintage furniture, clothing and costumes. As well as misc. household, garden, tools, and electronics. Sorry not a lot of kids stuff but we will be giving away whatever toys we do have.

1119 N. Sixth Ave. E. Just up from Grant School.

Rockin’ Honky Tonkin’ Blues @ Carmody

On Saturday, June 12, Bill Flannagan will be playing at Carmody Irish Pub. The 10pm show is free. There will be a few guest appearances. Hopefully a rockin’ good time will be had by all. Hope to see you there.

Art for a Cure

Several local artists will be shown at the North End Art Gallery, corner of Hammond & Broadway in Superior, on July 2, 5-8 and Sat, July 3, 10-4. 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Relay for Life in Superior for the American Cancer Society. A few confirmed artists:  Ed Newman, Chris Bode, Joni Tauzell, Luke Krisak, and Jeredt Runions.  Please stop by!.  Please send an e-mail to [email protected] with any question.

Whirlpool Electric Stove

Cream colored electric stove for sale. In great condition, but one burner needs some minor re-wiring. Other than that it works fine. It’s yours for just $200!

Speaking of Northland’s NewsCenter …

I am taking this moment to shamelessly plug two stories from last week. Both Renee Passal and myself profiled the Superior-based Genesis Attachments.

The company supplied the gigantic steel shears used to cut the bleeding Deepwater Horizon oil pipe last Thursday.

Fun Fact*

For me, doing this story brought out the unavoidable side of my imagination that creates terrifying, ocean-dwelling robots armed with savage instruments of war.  (Not that they truly exist, but if they did, we humans could outfit them with some crazy shit).

Admittedly, Passal with WDIO had the story first.  And I’m not saying that my version is better.  However, think of it this way:

Could you resist a story about gigantic, robot-controlled, underwater cutting tools?

-MS

Gobin Pawshington rips Babwa Spry Pelts

Duluth News Tribune Editor Robin Washington got one thing right in his column this week: The DNT is not good at promoting itself.

Washington announced that city hall reporter Brandon Stahl has been promoted to investigative/special projects editor and noted some other staff shuffling. It’s supposed to be good news. It shows that the DNT intends to focus more on investigative journalism. That’s what readers want, right? (more…)

Big Top Songwriting Competition 2010

The deadline to enter Big Top Chautauqua’s annual songwriting competition is coming up June 25. Last year, James Moors of Superior and Tracey Muench of Duluth were finalists. It’s part of Big Top’s Celebration of the Song Festival, a 3-day focus on songwriting and songwriters.

Info and entry forms are available at bigtop.org/canvas

The winner of this year’s contest gets a $100 cash prize and performs two songs to open for Nanci Griffith on August 28.

Duluth’s Sound Unseen Film+Music Festival in full swing this weekend!

If you’re wondering what “Sound Unseen” is and are seeing people around town sporting badges, T-shirts, carrying programs and what not — wonder no more! Duluth’s inaugural film + music festival has been underway since Wednesday and you can still come out and be a part of it! Tickets are available at: soundunseenduluth.com.

Today we’ve got loads of films playing at Spirit of the North Theater at Fitger’s, Zinema 2 and Marshall Performing Arts Center. Also, get ready for some great rock and roll from local darlings the Keep Aways, Twin Cities rockers Gasoline Silver and the electrifying duo of Gay Witch Abortion! All for the very very low price of $5!

Interesting article.

Interesting article over at Salon.com about aid making it to Gaza. It seems Hamas has a little bit to do with the aid not getting where it should. Color me surprised.

But hey, let’s just blame Israel instead.

Melody Matters: A Benefit Concert for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland

For their Senior Capstone project, Marshall School seniors Katie Kronzer, Yoon Tack, Gunnar O’Neill Sengbush, and Hannah Curwin will be hosting a benefit concert for the Boys & Girls Club of the Northland. The concert will feature the four seniors performing popular songs from artists such as John Mayer, the Wreckers, Jason Mraz, and the Beatles. Please come and join them in supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland!

Melody Matters:
A Benefit Concert for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
6 pm in the Fregeau Auditorium

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students. Donations are encouraged. All proceeds go directly to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland

Western Middle School site. Discuss.

As a hardcore environmentalist and a Red Plan critic, I am rather befuddled by all the talk of an EIS for the Western Middle School.

To be quite honest, the Western Middle School on the chosen site is the one part of the Red Plan I actually support. As an avid outdoor explorer, I think I’ve made tracks in just about every wild spot in Duluth, this one included. I can tell you the “pristine field” critics talk about is mostly an invasive buckthorn hell. Putting a middle school there, if done right, could lead to ecological restoration and native landscaping to improve a highly disturbed ecosystem.
(more…)

Oh hell no! Fred Tyson on Howard Stern?

There is a rumor going around that Duluth’s own Fred Tyson is flying out to New York City to be on the Howard Stern Show next Thursday.

Apparently he’s one of the final three in some sort of contest to become a new member of the Wack Pack, which is a collection of oddball personalities that appear on the show semi-regularly.

This ought to be interesting.

CHUM Rhubarb Recipe Contest

Calling all Rhubarb Lovers:

The Rhubarb crop is up and being harvested. The Rhubarb Festival is just around the corner (June 26), and the NEW deadline to enter the Rhubarb Lovers’ Recipe Contest is coming up on June 10. But, where are the recipes?

Is it too nice to be working in the kitchen? Too busy harvesting rhubarb to get your recipe entered? YOU FORGOT! Don’t miss the NEW deadline, June 10 … get that favorite recipe in today!

Call 218-720-6521 or go to chumduluth.org’s Rhubarb Festival page for more information. Send your entry to CHUM Recipe Contest, 102 West 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55802 or [email protected].

Link to the Rhubarb Lover’s Recipe Contest:
https://www.chumduluth.org/recipecontest.htm

Select Images from Denfeld’s first Oracle

Before there was a school called Denfeld, high school classes in West Duluth were held at Irving School. (more…)

Fundraiser for Haiti foundation Sunday 6/6

Haiti Worthy Cause Event
Supporting the Kako Foundation
Music/storytelling/Caribbean food
Sunday, June 6, 2010 | 3 p.m.
Chester Park United Methodist Church
819 N. 18th Ave. E
218 724-4969
(more…)

Prom Night in Mississippi

Monday, 7:30 PM, Zelda Theater in the Depot

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_zAEGAZoFQ&feature=player_embedded

In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the integration of segregated schools in America, including their events. In 1970 the town of Charleston, Mississippi, finally allowed black students into their one high school. White parents refused to integrate the school Graduation Dance, starting a tradition of separate, parent-organized White Proms and Black Proms. In 2008, it changed. “Prom Night in Mississippi” follows the disturbing, surprising, and hope filled steps to the first integrated prom at Charleston High School.

This is the second in the series of three “Free Movie Mondays” offered by the Duluth Art Institute. Tour the exhibit “National Geographic Greatest Portraits” for free from 6:30 to 7:30 then join everyone in the Depot’s Zelda Theater for a movie that provides a portrait of racism in our country today.

Heads up! Two Many Banjos at Tom’s Burned Down Cafe, Madeline Island

Friday and Saturday, June 11-12

Putting the BP F*ckup in perspective

What if it was in Lake Superior?

Election 2010: The Weird Stuff

As noted in a previous post, an Elvis impersonator is running for lieutenant governor in Minnesota.

Here are some other things that jump out at me from the candidate filings:

* Kenny Kalligher, co-host of Duluth Public Access Community Television’s The Average Guys is running for state auditor. He’s also a musician. Maybe you saw him at the Homegrown Music Festival, performing as Uncle Kenny.

* Longtime Republican Harry Welty is running for the State Senate in the 7th district on the DFL ticket. (By the way, Welty was my geography teacher in the 7th grade. My 9th grade civics teacher was Sam Solon, who held this senate seat for 31 years. And just to stretch these parenthetical Morgan-Park-Junior-High-related remarks out longer, I’ll note that the son of my 8th grade social studies teacher is running for judge in sixth district court 11.)

* Joe Reasbeck of Iron River is running for Congress in Wisconsin’s seventh district (currently Dave Obey’s seat; Obey’s retiring). This is, of course, the Joe Reasbeck of Google Goes to Twin Ports fame. He’s running as a Democrat.

An article in the Wausau Daily Herald notes that “in 2006 Reasbeck ran as an Independent write-in candidate for Congress in the Houston-area district formerly held by House Majority Leader Tom Delay. He raised about $4,000 from donors and ended up with less than 1 percent of the vote.”

An AP story notes that Reasbeck and other Republican candidates were officially considered independents after DeLay quit the race, but Reasbeck “said he was running as a Republican at the time and his campaign listed his party affiliation as Republican in a federal filing.”

Sam Miltich and the Big Dipper Jazz Band

Miltich Band Photo

Get all jazzed up with the PlayList Thursday night. Sam Miltich and the Big Dipper Jazz Band fill the studio with gypsy swing and traditional jazz tunes. Also, organic wood sculptures by Tim Byrns. Catch it at 9 pm on WDSE – PBS Channel 8.

Duluth Dentists

My former dentist retired recently and the dentist who took over his practice seems to me like he’s running a scam.  After a couple of questionable experiences, I won’t be going back.  I have plenty of friends who love their current places, but it seems like those dentists are all on the verge of retirement themselves.  So, I turn now to PDD for advice.  I am seeking a dentist who:

  • Is currently accepting new patients
  • Is not planning on retiring in the next 5-10 years
  • Is good with children
  • Won’t try to scam me on prices or leave my mouth worse off than before I went in

I never understood why people hated going to the dentist until I encountered a true scumbag years ago during an insurance switch.  While most of the dentists I’ve had have been wonderful, I’ve seen the other side, and no sir, I don’t like it!  So tell me please, who makes you smile?